Pair jailed over torture murder

Durham Police photo of Simon Nicholls, who was jailed for life at Teesside Crown Court

An "evil" mother who tortured her partner to death with the help of both her brother and boyfriend has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 32 years.

Clare Nicholls's brother, Simon Nicholls, 24, was told he will serve at least 25 years for his part in the prolonged killing of Andrew Gardner, 35.

Nicholls's on-off boyfriend Steven Martin, 44, who also lived with the family, will be sentenced next month.

The jury at Teesside Crown Court took just 30 minutes to convict the three.

Such was the nature of the evidence they heard during the three-week trial that the judge gave them a 20 year exemption from jury service.

Mr Gardner, who had learning difficulties, was starved for weeks and suffered more than 150 wounds ranging from slashings and deep scratchings to bruises, burns, punch and impact marks.

He suffered agonising broken ribs from being kneed, and died in excruciating pain, probably unable to leave the small terraced house in Chilton, County Durham.

Police believed Mr Gardner initially endured the abuse because he feared he would lose contact with his baby daughter if he left 28-year-old Nicholls, but later he was too weak from the prolonged abuse - mental and physical - to flee.

Judge Peter Fox, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, said most people who heard the evidence would describe the killing as "sadistic".

Detective Chief Inspector Mick Nail, who led the murder investigation, described Mr Gardner's murder as "the worst case of violence Durham Constabulary has had to investigate".